Smash and grab incidents have heightened as traffic congestion has escalated with the road construction in Fourways and the forum’s chairperson Jean Berdou said it made motorists more vulnerable to smash and grab incidents.
He cautioned the Fourways community to take the following cautions:
- Travel with your doors locked and windows closed or slightly open
- Please keep all valuable items, including cellphones, handbags and laptops out of sight
- If you see suspicious behaviour, contact the Douglasdale police immediately
- Make a noise such as hoot your horn or flash your lights to draw attention to the smash and grab offenders as this often scares them away
- Should you be a victim of a smash and grab incident, do not alight from your vehicle and pursue the offender, but rather contact the police. Berdou warned, “It is not worth risking your life for a few items.”
- Provide regular information to police of tell-tale signs of this type of crime, which include piles of rocks at the side of the road, suspicious groups of people watching the traffic and people approaching vehicles without legitimate reasons.
- If you can afford to, ensure your windows are fitted with a smash and grab film.
Berdou warned of five hot spots in the precinct and said it seemed that the smash and grab offenders mainly preyed on cars at busy intersections on main roads.
The off-ramp from the highway onto William Nicol Drive is a hot spot, as is the bridge over the highway on Main Road near Magaliessig. Incidents have also been reported on William Nicol Drive where Witkoppen Road bridge crosses the road and further down William Nicol Drive at the intersection of Fourways Boulevard.
Suspicious behaviour has been seen at the intersection of Uranium Road and William Nicol Drive.
